Reesie Sims was still a college student when she began working with trauma victims at the Ohio State organization It’s Abuse. She decided to make it her life’s work by moving to Washington D.C. to work at the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network and becoming a licensed therapist before starting her current role at Network for Victim Recovery of DC (NVRDC).

On this week’s episode of TraumaTies, host Bridgette Stumpf, Executive Director at NVRDC, discusses trauma and recovery with Reesie, who serves as the Therapeutic Services Manager at NVRDC. Reesie is responsible for leading support groups for trauma survivors and works individually with crisis and short-term clients.

This episode explores the power of therapy, the importance of differentiating between stress and trauma, and the need for more compassion.

Featured Guest

Name: Reesie Sims

What she does: As the Therapeutic Services Manager at NVRDC, Reesie is in charge of daily operations and activities for the Therapeutic Services Program. Reesie manages a caseload of crisis and short-term therapy clients, runs support groups for survivors, and gives clients the tools they need to make the best decisions for their own mental health.

Company: Network for Victim Recovery of DC

Episode Highlights

[07:14] Individual realities: Reesie explains that two people might respond to an event very differently because everyone’s ability to manage emotional responses is unique, just like any other aspect of their personality.

[13:10] Brain function: Traumatic experiences can change the brain, overwhelming its ability to process information, which can cause the traumatic memory to get “stuck” at the forefront of the brain, says Reesie.

[18:24] Long-term implications: Reesie affirms that the lasting effects of traumatic experiences can present themselves both psychologically and physically.

[22:03] Knowing the signs: Being compassionate with everyone in our daily lives is essential, especially if the person is a trauma survivor. To gauge whether someone is experiencing a past or perceived trauma in the moment, Reesie says to pay attention to body language and focus on “listening to hear and not listening to respond.”

[23:34] Stress v. trauma: According to Reesie, stress is more of an immediate response, while the long-term stress of responding to a disturbing event can mutate into trauma.

[33:50] Empowerment: Reesie strives to help the survivors she works with feel as empowered as possible. This is partially achieved by creating a safe space to share about their experience if and when they want.

[38:34] Book recs: Reesie recommends a few books — “The Body Bears the Burden,” “The Body Keeps Score,” and “True Refuge” — for people wishing to become more informed about their own trauma or that of a loved one.

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